NewsClick founder, HR head move SC against arrest in UAPA case

New Delhi: After a setback in Delhi High Court, NewsClick founder-editor Prabir Purkayastha and Human Resources head Amit Chakravarty on Monday moved the Supreme Court challenging their arrest by Delhi Police under the provisions of UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act).

A bench headed by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud said that the matter will be listed for hearing after perusing case papers.

An out-of-turn mentioning was made by senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who appeared on behalf of the NewsClick officials and sought directions for urgent listing of their plea.

On October 13, the NewsClick officials’ plea challenging their arrest and seeking quashing of FIR in the matter was dismissed by a bench of Justice Tushar Rao Gedela of the High Court, saying that it is not inclined to pass any favourable orders considering the seriousness of offences alleged against them.

The Special Cell of Delhi Police had registered an FIR against NewsClick on August 17 under different sections of the UAPA and the Indian Penal Code for affecting stability, integrity, sovereignty, and national security.

In August, a New York Times investigation had accused NewsClick of being an organisation funded by a network linked with US millionaire Neville Roy Singham, to allegedly promote Chinese propaganda.

With inputs from IANS

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